Fastening device



Oct. 19, 1965 c. B. FORRESTER 3,212,150

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1963 INVENTOR CLIVE B. FORRESTER Lax ff A TORNEMm United States Patent 3,212,150 FASTENING DEVICE Clive B. Forrester, Miami, Fla., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 318,644 9 Claims. (Cl. 24207) This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 181,348, filed March 21, 1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates to fastening devices, and more particularly to a fastening device which is especially adaptable for shoes and the like.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a new and novel fastening device made entirely of relatively stiff wire which can be conveniently bent and deformed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved fastening device having a manipulating member incorporated therewith which is so constructed and arranged that it will lock substantially at any point along the fastening device so as to prevent unintentional movement of the manipulating member and opening of the fastening device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved fastening device for shoes and the like which can be easily incorporated with a shoe, and at the same time eflicient and effective in its use whereby the shoe may be quickly and easily fastened and unfastened.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a combined manipulating and locking member which is substantially oval shape and which is adapted to encircle a pair of substantially parallel wire members adapted to be drawn together and which is so constructed and arranged that it will lock automatically in any position along the wire members so as to prevent any unintentional movement of the manipulating member therealong.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a shoe having the improved fastening device of the present invention incorporated therewith and showing it in its substantially fully open position,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the front portion of the shoe similar to FIG. 1 showing the fastening device being moved to a position of adjustment,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, I

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the fastener in its locked position,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fastener in locked position as shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a side view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. *2,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view observing one side of the manipulating member at an angle showing how the loop member-s thereof cooperate with the arm portions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved fastening device of my invention consists of a relatively stiff resilient wire member 2 made of spring steel or some other suitable material which is bent to substantially V-shape so as to provide a pair of spacedapart arm portions 3 and 4 integrally connected together at the lower end thereof by means of a deformed transversely extending portion 5 so as to provide converging arm-like portions 5a.

ice

Each of the arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member 2 are reversely bent, as at 6, so as to provide arm-like portions 7 and 8 which are spaced from the respective arms 3 and 4. On the free end of each of these armlike portions 7 and 8, there is formed a hook-like portion 9 and 10, respectively, which detachably engage and cooperate with the arm-like portions 5a of the wire member 2 at the lower ends of the respective arms 3 and 4 thereof adjacent the transversely extending portion 5 to form in cooperation with the respective arms 3 and 4, a closed loop-like portion, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings for the purpose of attaching the assembly to a shoe.

According to the present invention, there is provided a combined manipulating and locking member 12 preferably formed from relatively stiff wire. This member consists preferably of a piece of wire bent to substantially oval shape so as to provide a transversely extending portion 13 which is interconnected with one leg of a pair of each of identical substantially U-shaped loop portions 14 by an angular arranged portion 15 at each end thereof with the U-shaped portions being in lateral alignment with one another but offset from the transverse portion 13. The free ends of the wire are bent together so as to provide a transverse portion preferably having a handle in the form of a loop portion 16 arranged centrally thereof which is disposed opposite the transverse portion 13. Each side of this loop portion is connected to the other leg of the respective U-shaped portions 14 by angular arranged portions 17 which extends in a direction opposite to the angular portions 15. Thus, it will be seen that angular portions 15 and 17 together with the respective U-shaped portion 14 are deformed so as to be substantially Z-shaped. There is provided preferably a tab member 18 connected to the loop portion 16 as an aid in actuating the manipulating member to open and close the fastening device.

This combined manipulating and locking member 12 is arranged on arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member 2 with the U-shaped portions 14 straddling the respective ar-m portions 3 and 4 so as to partially encircle the same when the manipulating member is in its locked position, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 of the drawings, but adapted to be moved out of encirclement therewith and to the outer side thereof when the manipulating member is moved to position to open or close the fastening device, as shown in FIGS. 52, 3 and 6 of the drawings.

The fastening device is assembled in the shoe in the following manner. There is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings a shoe having the usual front instep opening, side instep or flap portions 19 and 20 to either side of the opening and an inner tongue T. The edges of these flap portions 19 and 20 bordering the opening are preferably folded upon themselves so as to provide longitudinally extending slots or openings 21 and 22, respectively, between the folds of the flaps which slots extend throughout the length of the opening and the flap portions, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In assembling the fastening device in the shoe, 'the arm-like portions 7 and 8 are inserted into the upper end of the respective slots 21 and 22 in the flap portions of the shoe and moved therethrough until the extreme outer ends thereof carrying the respective hook-like portions 9 and 10 extend beyond the lower ends of the respective slots. The hook-like portions 9 and 10 are then moved to position between the arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member so that these hook-shaped portions are disposed around the arm-like portions 5a of the arm portions adjacent the transverse portions 5. As a result, it will be seen that each of the arm-like members 7 and 8 in cooperation with the respective arm portions 3 and 4 form a closed loop-like portion at each side of the shoe opening so as to securely attach the fastening device to the shoe. To remove the assembly from the shoe, the reverse procedure is followed.

Having described the construction of the improved fastening device of the present invention, it functions in the following manner. When the fastening device is positioned in the opening of a shoe, it will be understood that the arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member 2 at all times tend to spread apart from one another due to the inherent resilient characteristics of the wire, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. In FIGS. 4, and 7, the manipulating member 12 is shown at rest and in its normal or locked position relative to the arm portions 3 and 4. In such position, it will be understood that the U- shaped portions 14 straddle the respective arm portions 3 and 4 and that the angular portions 15 and 17 cooperate to bind on the respective arm portions 3 and 4 so as to lock the manipulating member against unintentional or slippage movement therealong. This is primarily due to the fact that the encircling loops 14 because of their resiliency tend to square themselves at right angles with the arm portions 3 and 4. This motion, in turn, forces angular portions 15 and 17 to bind tightly against arm portions 3 and 4, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7.

Thus it will be seen that when the manipulating member 12 is in a slidable or unlocked position it would assume a position substantially, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings. In this position the arm portions 3 and 4 of the resilient Wire member 2 are normally prevented from assuming a position in the U-shaped portions 14 of the manipulating or body member 12 and due to the configuration of angular arranged portions 17 will not be moved and positioned therein until these arm portions 3 and 4 are forced outwardly away from each other by a pulling or spreading action.

It follows then that when the arm portions 3 and 4 are subjected to an outward or lateral force these arm portions will snap into locked position in the respective U-shaped portions 14 so as to be seated therein, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 of the drawings. This snapping action is due to the camming action of the angular portions 15 and 17 over the respective arm portions 3 and 4. It will be understood that these angular portions 15 and 17 cooperate to bite or pinch tightly against the respective arm portions 3 and 4 due to the arrangement of the opposed angular portions, and the pinching action of loops 14.

It will be understood that the manipulating or locking member 12 may be used in conjunction with any two parallel wires in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 7, other than a fastening device, for locking the manipulating member at any point along the Wires for any desired purpose.

When it is desired to close the fastening device or move the manipulating member 12 along the arm portions 3 and 4, the tab member 18 is grasped and the loop portion 16 is moved outwardly from the arm portions 3 and 4, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. In such movement it will be understood that the manipulating member 12 tends to twist relative to the arm portions 3 and 4 and in so doing the arm portions are moved out of encircling engagement with the U-shaped portions 14 due to the arrangement of the angular portions 15 and 17 which tend to cam the arm portions out of the U-shaped portions toward one another, as shown in FIG. 6, so as to permit the manipulating member to slide freely along the arm portions 3 and 4.

When tension on the tab member 18, together with the manipulating member 12, is released at any point along the arm portions 3 and 4, it will be understood that the manipulating member will again tend to twist on the arm portions and again assume its normal position thereon, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. In moving to such position, it will be understood that the arm portions 3 and 4 move into the respective U-shaped portions 14 of the manipulating member by a snapping action due to the arrangement of the angular portions 15 and 17. Thus, by providing such an arrangement, it will be seen that the manipulating member 12 can be moved to and locked at any point along the arm portions 3 and 4 of the fastening device so as to provide an adjustable opening.

It will also be understood that when the manipulating member 12 is moved toward its fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, that the hook-like portions 9 and 10 will slide up the respective arm-like portions 5a toward the arm portions 3 and 4 and the center of the shoe opening so as to move the lower inner edges of the flap portions 19 and 20 closer together and substantially in abutting relation.

As a result of my invention it will be seen that there is provided a simple and inexpensive fastening device which can be easily assembled in a shoe or other article with which it is to be used. It will also be seen that the manipulating device will lock automatically at any point along the arm portions of the fastening device simply by releasing the tab member 18 which is one of the most important aspects of the invention.

While I have shown and described an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a fastening device, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially U-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion,

means carried by each of said arm portions for attaching the same to edges of an opening adapted to be closed,

a substantially oval shaped combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stiff wire deformed so as to provide a transverse portion having substantially a U-shaped portion arranged at each end thereof whereby a pair of spaced-apart leg portions are provided, said U-shaped portions straddling in one position the arm portions of said first wire member,

an angular portion disposed out of the plane of said U-shaped portions and substantially at an acute angle thereto interconnecting one of the leg portions of each of said U-shaped portions with said transverse portion, and

a handle portion arranged opposite said transverse portion substantially centrally thereof connected at each side thereof with the other leg of the respective U- shaped portions.

2. In a fastening device, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially U-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion,

means carried by each of said arm portions for attaching the same to edges of an opening adapted to be closed,

a substantially oval shaped combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stiff wire deformed so as to provide a transverse portion having substantially a U-shaped portion arranged at each end thereby whereby a pair of spaced-apart leg portions are provided, said U-shaped portions straddling in one position the arm portions of said first wire member,

an angular portion arranged to one side of said U- shaped portions and disposed out of the plane thereof and substantially at an acute angle thereto interconnecting one of the leg portions of each of said U- shaped portions with said transverse portion,

a handle portion arranged opposite said transverse portion substantially centrally thereof, and

another angular portion arranged to the opposite side of said U-shaped portions opposite the first angular portion interconnecting the other leg portion of each of the respective U-shaped portions with one side of said handle partion.

3. In a fastening device, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially U-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion.

means carried by each of said arm portions for attaching the same to edges of an opening adapted to be closed,

a substantially oval shaped combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stilf wire deformed so as to provide a transverse portion disposed on one side of said arm portions,

a substantially U-shaped portion arranged at each end of said transverse portion substantially in lateral alignment with each other but offset from said transserve portion so as to provide a pair of spaced apart leg portions with one leg portion of each connected to the respective ends of said transverse portion by an angular portion, and

a central handle portion arranged on the side of the arm portions opposite that from said transverse portion, said handle portion being interconnected with the other leg of the respective U-shaped portions by another angular portion,

said U-shaped portions in one position adapted to be disposed around the respective arm portions of said first wire member with the angular interconnections between the same diverging outwardly relative to one another whereby these-interconnecting portions co operatively cause a bind upon the respective arm portions so as to prevent unintentional movement of the manipulating member therealong when a lateral force is applied to the arm portions.

4. In a fastening device of the class described, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially U-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, the free end of each of said arm portions being reversely bent so as to form in cooperation therewith a loop-like portion on the outer side of each of said arm portions,

means arranged on the extreme outer ends of each of said reversely bent portions which detachably engage said wire member adjacent said transversely extending portion to each side thereof to form a closed loop,

a substantially oval shaped combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stiif wire deformed so as to provide a transverse portion having substantially a U-shaped portion arranged at each end thereof whereby a pair of spaced-apart leg portions are provided, said U-shaped portions straddling in one position the arm portions of said first wire member,

an angular portion disposed out of the plane of said U-shaped portions and substantially at an acute angle thereto interconnecting one of the leg portions of each of said U-shaped portions with said transverse portion, and

a handle portion arranged opposite said transverse portion substantially centrally thereof connected at each side thereof with the other leg of the respective U- shaped portions.

5. In a fastening device of the class described, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially U-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, the free end of each of said arm portions being reversely bent so as to form in cooperation therewith a loop like portion on the outer side of each of said arm portions,

means arranged on the extreme outer ends of each of said reversely bent portions which detachably engage said wire member adjacent said transversely extending portion to each side thereof to form a closed loop,

a substantially oval shaped combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stifl? Wire deformed so as to provide a transverse portion having substantially a U-shaped portion arranged at each end thereof whereby a pair of spaced-apart leg portions are provided, said U-shaped portions straddling in one position the arm portions of said first wire member,

an angular portion arranged to one side of said U- shaped portions and disposed out of the plane thereof and substantially at an acute angle thereto interconnecting one of the leg portions of each of said U- shaped portions with said transverse portion,

a handle portion arranged opposite said transverse portion substantially centrally thereof, and

another angular portion arranged to the opposite side of said U-shaped portions opposite said first angular portion interconnecting the other leg portion of each of the respective U-shaped portions with one side of said handle portion.

6. In a fastening device of the class described, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially U-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, the free end of each of said arm portions being reversely bent so as to form in cooperation therewith a loop-like portion on the outer side of each of said arm port-ions,

means arranged on the extreme outer ends of each of said reversely bent portions which detachably engage said wire member adjacent said transversely extending portion to each side thereof to form a closed loop,

a substantially oval shaped combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stiff wire deformed so as to provide a transverse portion disposed on one side of said arm portions,

a substantially U-shaped portion arranged at each end of said transverse portion substantially in lateral alignment with each other but offset from said transverse portion so as to provide a pair of spaced apart leg portions with one leg of each connected to the respective ends of said transverse portion by an angular portion, and

a handle portion arranged on the opposite side of said arm portions and disposed opposite from said transverse portion,

said handle portion being interconnected with the other leg of the respective U-shaped portions,

said U-shaped portions in one position adapted to be disposed around the respective arm portions of said first wire member with the angular interconnections between the same diverging outwardly relative to one another whereby these interconnecting portions cooperatively cause a bind upon the respective arm portions so as to prevent unintentional movement of the manipulating member therealong when a lateral force is applied to the arm portions.

7. A combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stiff wire deformed to substantially oval shape which is adapted to encircle a pair of spacedapart substantially parallel Wire members adapted to be drawn together and locked in position relative thereto comprising a central transverse portion having a substantially U- shaped portion arranged at each end thereof whereby a pair of spaced-apart leg portions are provided with one leg of each of said U-shaped portions interconnected with the respective ends of said transverse portion by an angular portion,

said U-shaped portions being substantially in alignment with one another and offset from said transverse portion,

a central transverse manipulating portion disposed opposite said first transverse portion with the ends thereof being interconnected with the other leg portion of the respective U-shaped portions by an angular portion,

said second transverse portion being ofiset from both said U-shaped portions and said first transverse portion,

said U-shaped portions in one position adapted to be disposed around the respective wire members,

the angular interconnections between the U-shaped portions and the transverse portions being constructed and arranged so that these angular interconnecting portions cooperat-ively cause a bind upon the respective wire members so as to prevent un intentional movement of the manipulating member therealong when a lateral force is applied to the wire members.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 including a handle portion arranged with one of said transverse portions.

9. A combined manipulating and locking member made of relatively stiiT wire deformed to substantially oval shape which is adapted to encircle a pair of spacedapart substantially parallel wire members adapted to be drawn together and locked in position relative thereto comprising a central transverse portion having a substantially U- shaped portion arranged at each end thereof whereby a pair of spaced-apart leg portions are provided with one leg of each of said U-shaped portions connected to the respective ends of said transverse portion by means of an angular portion, and

a central transverse manipulating portion disposed opposite said first transverse portion having an angular portion at each end thereof interconnecting the same with theother leg of the respective U-shaped portions,

said last mentioned angular portions being in opposed relation to the respective first angular portions and extending in opposite angular directions relative thereto,

said U-shaped portions in one position adapted to be disposed around the respective spaced-apart wire members and the angular portions adapted to cooperate with the respective angular portions opposite to cause a bind upon the respective wire members so as to prevent unintentional movement of the manipulating member therealong when subjected to lateral forces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,122,810 3/64 Lawrence et al. 24207 FOREIGN PATENTS 960,656 10/48 France. I 519,131 2/31 Germany.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. 

1. IN A FASTENING DEVICE, A RESILIENT WIRE MEMBER BENT TO A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPE SO AS TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED-APART ARM PORTIONS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AT ONE END BY A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PORTION, MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID ARM PORTIONS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME TO EDGES OF AN OPENING ADAPTED TO BE CLOSED, A SUBSTANTIALLY OVAL SHAPED COMBINED MANIPULATING AND LOCKING MEMBER MADE OF RELATIVELY STIFF WIRE DEFORMED SO AS TO PROVIDE A TRANSVERSE PORTION HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY A U-SHAPED PORTION ARRANGED AT EACH END THEREOF WHEREBY A PAIR OF SPACED-APART LEG PORTIONS ARE PROVIDED, SAID U-SHAPED PORTIONS STRADDLING IN ONE POSITION THE ARM PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST WIRE MEMBER, AN ANGULAR PORTION DISPOSED OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID U-SHAPED PORTIONS AND SUBSTANTIALLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE THERETO INTERCONNECTING ONE OF THE LEG PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID U-SHAPED PORTIONS WITH SAID TRANSVERSE PORTION, AND A HANDLE PORTION ARRANGED OPPOSITE SAID TRANSVERSE PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY THEREOF CONNECTED AT EACH SIDE THEREOF WITH THE OTHER LEG OF THE RESPECTIVE USHAPED PORTIONS. 